Some people say that things get more strange the further south you go in Italy
and Naples, south of Rome, is a great place to see yourself if that is true. This
is a huge and crowded city with some of the most chaotic traffic in Europe, but
it’s close to the Mount Vesuvius volcano and also so packed with history
that you won’t have to worry about getting bored here. Naples is known for
pickpockets and other petty criminals however, so caution and common sense should
be used.

What To Do

Naples was founded by the Greeks around the 6th Century BC, so as you might imagine,
the buildings in the city center can range from old to much, much older. The entire
historic center of Naples was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and there are
various castles and cathedrals all over. Pizza was invented in Naples so sampling
a pizza margherita is a tasty ritual for newcomers that one shouldn’t pass
up just because it’s so cliché.

The Naples Archeological Museum is where you’ll find art and other objects
removed from the two main nearby excavation sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
There is also a display of the Farnese collection of Roman sculptures.

Many kilometers of tunnels and caverns have been dug out of the soft stone underneath
the city and part of these tunnels are available to visitors in a unique attraction
that is a great way to break up your time between the all the churches and castles.

Getting There

Naples isn’t too far from Rome so many visitors will arrive in Rome
and then do the rest of Italy by rail. But it is possible to fly directly to
Naples from most of Europe and even further way. You can book
a flight into Capodichino International Airport (code: NAP) and then take
public transportation into the city center. If you are coming from out of the
region it’s probably better to book
a flight into Rome and then arrive by train.

Where To Stay

There are many hostels
in Naples and of course the usual variety of hotels
in all price ranges as well. Generally Naples is cheaper than Rome and Florence,
but some of the places here fall below the standards of most places in those
other cities. When booking the cheapest place you can find it’s important
to realize you might only be just getting your money’s worth here.